amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

bfapmamma

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Just wanted to add that we too use a harness. We don't use it for everyday errands, as we want Emily (2) to learn how to behave without it, but we do use it in any situation where it is very crowded or potentially dangerous. For example we used it at the fair this weekend, but not the grocery this morning. I don't feel guilty at all about this - we don't have a sling, and a stroller isn't always a feasible idea. This way she stays safe, and I stay relaxed!

We also play the red light /green light game so she learns the meaning of stop. They think this is so much fun. We never use "no" when we want her to stop. Like another mom mentioned, we feel it's a word that they often act out defiantly against. So Stop gets used a lot. Since it gets used so much she doesn't always listen, so we also use freeze. Freeze is rarely used - and only when she gets herself into a dangerous situation. IE: today she wriggled out of my arms in a parking lot right in front of the store where all the traffic is. She rarely hears freeze, and we use it in a very strong, no-nonsense tone. She always stops immeadiately on freeze now.

Smokey's Wife

We have them put away for "special places", and I tell them very hosestly that there are people in this world who steal children, and that I love them too much to have them missing. If they choose to walk, they must have their harness on. They have never fought me on it, we just always used it in crowded places, when they were tired of riding in the stroller and wanted to feel like a big kid. We use them at Disneyland, and such places like that, in airports and shopping malls. When we can we use a sling, backpack, stroller etc...but when they insist on walking, and prefer not to hold my hand, then the harness is a must.

Mrs. Smokey Bear!